Introducing the LRC PUMA 55

LRCIntroducing the LRC PUMA 55 The first 55 (out of 100) LRC visitors worthy enough to represent you in the PUMA Faas Challenge have been chosen. They share one thing in
common- their passion for running. Instead of releasing all 55 at once, today we present to you the first 5 and will keep releasing a new batch until we're done (the 12 Days of Puma). Today we've got a boxer who has run 130 miles a week, a 16 year old inspired to be a state champion by LRC, a D1 Runner sick of free Nike gear, a US Army Major who kept running while deployed, and a woman inspiring others to run. You think you're worthy to put the Puma Faas
shoes to the test? Enter the LRC Puma Faas Challenge here.

LRC Jason Vigilante Leaves The University Of Virginia Vigilante (the coach of Alan Webb and Robby Andrews), who rose to fame as the mid-d and distance coach at the University of Texas, has confirmed to LetsRun.com that he is no longer leading the Virginia program after three plus years in Charlottesville. *Discuss:Vig out at UVA

Men: LRCWisconsin Badgers Take Control Early As Lawi Lalang Dominates Lawi Lalang waited until 5k before deciding it was time to crush the competition
once and for all, while #1 Wisconsin
showed no fear and put a stranglehold on the competition from the very beginning and held off a belated charge from Oklahoma State and a surprising Colorado team as the Cowboys tried to three-peat. American Chris Derrick took home individual runner-up honors to cap a brilliant career in style. *Discuss

Q&A With World University Games 800m Champ Lachlan Renshaw Includes video with a pretty crazy last 100m. Renshaw is part of OTC and trains with Nick Symmonds and Tyler Mulder. Gives some insight into the OTC mid-distance training under Coach Mark Rowland, whose program seems to emphasize mileage more than many mid-d programs.

LRC 2:05:06!!! Geoffrey Mutai Caps Year In Style An unbelievable year in men's marathoning had an appropriate finish, as the Kenyan man who had the most unbelievable of all years, Geoffrey Mutai, smashed the previous NYC Marathon record by a stunning 2:38 - that's two minutes and 38 seconds. If it wasn't the greatest 2nd-greatest men's marathon performance
ever, you'll have to tell us what was. American Meb Keflezighi hung with the leaders for 20 miles after a blistering 63:16 1st half and ended up with a much-deserved PR. Mutai picked up $200,000 by winning, but the big financial winner was runner-up Emmanuel Mutai, who won $635,000 ($500,000 for the WMM title).

LRC Mary Keitany Beats
HerselfThe women's race was full of gut-wrenching
drama, as Mary Keitany went out in a crazy 67:56. The problem was she came back in 74:42, as unheralded Firehiwot Dado (Rome
Marathon champ) got the win.

Because We Love You

LRC Puma NCAA Prediction Contest Recap And 20 Random People Who Get Free T-Shirts The winners of our Puma NCAA XC prediction contest are in and once again they are a bunch of ringers. Our overall winner was born in Eugene and
competed
for the historic New York Athletic Club. Not fair. Plus, we've got coaches of national championship teams, a guy who actually
ran in the D1 race, and a guy training for a "hangover 3k." However, to show we've got a heart and to give the 99% a chance, we're randomly giving
away free LetsRun.com Puma T-shirts to the following 20 people: TimMalloy20, njrunner91, sdpollar, ryan409, Lenny Leonard, Mbtiger93, runningDS, updog, Ohio Rulz, runxc274, everfast, jmthomps, skeelxc, DukeSter, csherf, runnjump20, newtrails, freeballit, thewalrus, StepOnIt. You've got a week to email us. The rest of you want something for free? Too bad Enter the LetsRun.com Puma Faas Challenge.Tomorrow:December 1 We Announce The LRC PUMA 55

Delhi Half Marathon Recap Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa (59:30) won by less than a second over World XC Junior Champ Geoffrey Kipsang; World Half Marathon bronze medallist Sammy Kitwara (58:38 PR) was 4th. In the women's race, 2006 Commonwealth Games 10k Champ Lucy Kabuu Wangui won in 67:04 over Sharon Cherop (3rd in World Champs marathon) and defending champ Aselefech Mergia. Mary
Keitany's 65:50 WR Did NOT Go Down

US News

Recommended Read: A Look Back At The '54 Drake Relays Jav Winner, Marion Hudson An amazing 3-sport athlete from the now non-existent Dana College. Many say racist attitudes in the 1950s kept him from going pro or competing in the Olympics. Article calls him "one of the greatest athletes no one has ever heard of."

Toni Reavis: "Distance Racing Has Hit The Wall" Reavis complains about the economic status of US distance running and, like us, he criticizes the Competitor Group for cutting prize money and paying one big pro to "solo effort" their races for an easy win.

Jordan Hasay: "I thought I had it." "I thought I had it. I was keying off her. I knew she was the one to beat. It just came down to the last couple of strides. It's kind of a bummer to get all of the way to the end and get beat."

Nice Pre-Race Article On Lalang With Nice Quotes From Coach Li: "Lawi is not the same now as he was last spring. He is better and he is
more confident ..." "But this is his biggest race ever and there are great expectations. You
still have to race on the day. I am eager to see how he responds."
LetsRun.com says - He responded quite well.

Women: LRCGeorgetown, Reid Win Tight BattlesSix women kicked for home over the last 400m of the race but in
the end it turned into the duel
many expected and Sheila Reid of Villanova got the narrow win over Jordan Hasay.
The big surprise was in the team's race, where the Georgetown women, who were only third at Big East, won by eight over Washington as #1 Florida State faltered and finished 4th. *Discuss

USATF Showing Some Leadership

Track And Field Will Be Back In The GardenThe Millrose Games may have died moved to the Armory but USATF has stepped up and shown some leadership by announcing they will put on a new meet at Madison Square Garden next year, the US Open. Bernard Lagat says he's running it and most importantly ESPN will be televising it, showing the world our sport is
not a complete joke and can be held on a grand stage. Three cheers for USATF (we're not sure if we've ever said those words in the same sentence). *MBoard Thread*USATF Article

He Will Be Missed Adam Goucher Retires Goucher is having knee surgery on Friday and says his competitive racing career is over. We've always said that one way to judge whether a runner's
career was a good one or not is simple: Were They Good Enough That They Could Retire Or Just Quit? Goucher certainly is retiring, as he had an INCREDIBLE career - Foot Locker champ, NCAA champ indoors, NCAA champ outdoors
and NCAA champ in XC, USA champ in XC and track and an Olympian. Goucher is a runner at heart and we wouldn't rule out seeing him in the 2016 Marathon Trials.*MB:Adam Goucher retires

LRCChris Thompson, Sara Hall Win, Ritz Is 3rd (link fixed) Hall continued her fine fall campaign with the win in this race that serves as a huge NYRR recruiting tool. Most importantly for US distance fans, Dathan Ritzenhein did well and emerged from the race healthy (link fixed to story with Hall interview).

LRC Healthy Ritz Talks About Marathon Trials, His Track Ambititions And More After double foot surgery in March, a healthy Ritz ran what was likely his only race before the Olympic Marathon Trials in 10 weeks. He talked about his preparations for the Marathon Trials, his desire to run faster on the track, and showed
he stil has a lot of fire: "The talent's still there. I'm still young.
I'm 28 so hopefully I just keep getting better."

NCAA Women's Photo Gallery

NCAA Men's Photo Gallery (500+ Photos)

Beautiful People (NCAA XC Banquet Photos)

NCAA XC Is Here

LRCNCAA XC Prediction Contest Powered By Puma Our world-famous NCAA Prediction Contests are back. Tell us who will win in Terre Haute and you could win some cool Puma gear or $200,010 if you have a perfect ballot.

Great Deals

Training Advice

Advice From The Pros

Top 10 Training Tips
LetsRun.com's Weldon Johnson gives his top 10 training tips in this letsrun.com classic when the site first launched. They helped him knock 1:22 off his 10k PR in one race and will definitely help you, too.

No Shortcuts
LetsRun.Com coaching consultant John Kellogg outlines his basic coaching approach and gives the four principles to correct training for elites. LetsRun.com co-founder Robert Johnson translates Mr. Kellogg's approach so that it is beneficial for the masses.

Wejo Speaks:

Why I Sucked In College Perhaps Wejo's most popular training article ever. Wejo explains why he was only a mediocre college runner, yet ended up running 28:06 for 10k.

Highlights From Our Archives

Kenya:

LetsRun.com's Wejo went to Kenya for the World XC Championships and then he toured the country and explored the secrets of some of the Kenyan greats. See some of his insights on this incredible country.

Controlled Chaos Read about incredible one-of-a-kind 2007 World XC Championships in Mombasa, Kenya. Tens of thousands of people packed like sardines, hanging in trees, in oppressive heat, all
to
see the Cross-Country Championships for the first time in Kenya. There will never be a party like this one again.